Back rest for bathtubs



Feb. 26, 1963 M. CHAITLEN BACK REST FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 23, 1961 2w Md? 1.. 11 w 2%? INVENTOR. MGR/WA CHA/Hf/V tors orders.

United States Patent 3,078,474 BACK REST FOR BATHTUBS Morrie Chaitlen, 539 Stratford Place, Chicago 13, Ill. Filed Feb. 23, 1961, Set. No. 91,204 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to a back rest. More particularly, this invention relates to a back rest for use in bathtubs.

Many people customarily spend a considerable amount of time in a bathtub while bathing. This time is spent in quiet relaxation and is considered an excellent means for relieving tensions and cares built up during a busy day. Further, many people must spend a considerable amount of time in the bathtub for medical reasons, under a doc- However, if one sits back in the average bathtub, his back contacts a hard and normally cold and unpleasant surface. This is due to the inherent structure of the tub and little has been done to eliminate these discomforts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a back rest for use in bathtubs. This back rest is particularly designed for those people who wish to spend a considerable amount of time in the tub.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a back rest which provides a soft and friendly surface to rest against.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a back rest which is pleasing in appearance and constructed such that its appearance is retained even though subjected to the bath Water, soaps, detergents and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a back rest which is completely waterproof and shape retaining, thereby being long lasting and easily cleanable.

These and other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art of back rests upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the back rest comprising this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the back rest of FIG. 1 positioned and mounted in a large tub; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the back rest of FIG. 1 positioned and mounted within a smaller tub.

Briefly, this invention relates to a back rest for use in a bathtub including a core fabricated of a resilient, shape retaining material and formed to the general configuration of an end of a bathtub. A cover envelo-ps this core, the cover being absolutely watertight and the material from which it is formed being characterized by resistance to soaps and detergents, and easily cleaned. A wing extends from each side of the cover. A suction cup is secured to each of the wings, whereby the back rest may be positioned adjacent an end of a bathtub and the suction cups secured to the bathtub, the back rest covering an area of the end of the bathtub suflicient to accommodate the entire back of a bather.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the back rest of this invention (FIGS. 1 and 2). The back rest 1 includes a core 2, a cover 10, a pair of Wings 20 and 21, and a pair of suction cups 30 and 31.

The core 2 is fabricated of a material characterized by softness, resiliency and the ability to retain the configuration to which it is formed. It has been found that a core comprised of foam rubber exhibits the proper characteristics noted and is therefore considered as included in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Howice ever, it must be understood that this core could be fabricated of other materials exhibiting these characteristics, such as foamed urethane. The core- 2 is generally rectangular and shaped to the configuration of an end of a bathtub. It is of a size such that is can accommodate the entire back of a person bathing in the tub. In the preferred embodiment of this invention shown, the core is tapered, the end 3 being thicker than the end 4. The purpose of this tapering will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The cover 10 is fabricated of a material characterized by resistance to water, soap, detergents and the like. The surface of the material must be such that it is easily cleanable. It is mandatory that it be completely watertight. It has been found that an envelope of vinyl plastic is especially well adapted for the purposes noted. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to this particular type of plastic. Rather, in the broadest aspect of this invention, any material exhibiting the characteristics noted may be utilized. This cover 'or envelope 10 is comprised of two sheets of material of the type noted above, designated by the reference numerals 11 and 12. The sheets 11 and 12 are generally rectangular and conform to the configuration of the core 2, being slightly larger than the surface area of the core. The sheet 11 includes a pair of ears 11a and 11b, and the sheet 12 includes a pair of ears 12a and 12b. The sheets 11 and 12 are snugly fitted adjacent the core 2, and the peripheries of each sheet are adhesively bonded together. It will be noted that the ears 11a and 12a are superimposed one upon the other, as are the ears 11b and 12b. The two sheets are secured together in such a manner that an absolutely waterproof envelop is provided for the core 2.

The ears 11a and 1201 form the wing 29, the ears 11b and 12b forming the wing 21. Suction cups 319 and 31 are secured respectively to the Wings 211 and 21, by suitable fastening means. These suction cups form the means for attaching the back rest 1 to the bathtub.

The back rest 1 is used as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the back rest 1 is positioned adjacent an end 41 of a large bathtub 40. The lower end 4 of the back rest is configurated to the bottom and end of the tub as shown, it being easily pliable because of its thickness. The suction cups 3i} and 31 are then applied to the end 41 of the tub 40. It will be noted that the back rest is firmly attached to the end of the tub and the bather may lean against the back rest, his entire back, neck and head contacting a soft and friendly surface. The bather may rest against this surface during the relaxation time spent in the tub.

FIG. 4 shows the back rest 1 positioned and mounted Within a somewhat smaller tub 50. In this case, the suction cups 31 and 32 are secured to the sides 51 and 52 of the tub 50. When thus mounted, the back rest 1 provides the same comfort as noted hereinbefore.

It will be noted that this invention has provided a back rest for use in a bathtub, particularly designed for people who wish to spend a considerable amount of time in the tub while bathing. Instead of the discomforts of a hard and normally cold and unpleasant surface of the tub, his back may rest against a soft and pleasing friendly surface. The back rest is simple in construction, and due to the characteristics of the cover, is long lasting and easily cleaned. The back rest fits the configuration of any sized sub and provides comfort at the entire end of the tub.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it may be possible to practice this invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope aovsa'm 3 thereof. Such embodiments are to be included as a part of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A back rest for use in a bathtub, comprising: a core, said core fabricated of a resilient, shape retaining material and formed to the general configuration of an end of a bathtub; a cover enveloping said core, said cover being watertight and the material from which it is formed being characterized by resistance to soaps and detergents and easily cleaned; a wing extending from each side of said cover, and protruding beyond the outermost edge portions of each side; each wing being flexible and bendable along said edge portions; and a suction cup secured to each of said Wings, whereby the back rest may be positioned adjacent an end ofi a bath tub and said suction cups secured to the bathtub, said protruding bendable wings allowing the suction cups to be attached to the back of a Wide tub and to the sides of a narrow tub; said back rest adapted to cover an area sufiicient to accommodate the entire back of a bather.

2. A back rest for use in a bathtub, comprising: a core, said core fabricated of a resilient, shape retaining material and formed to the general configuration of an end of a bathtub; a cover enveloping said core, said cover formed from two generally rectangularly shaped pieces of plastic material adhesively secured together at their peripheries, said cover being watertight and the material from which it is formed being characterized by resistance to soaps and detergents and easily cleaned; a wing extending from each side of said cover, said wings being extensions formed on said pieces of plastic material, and protruding beyond the outermost edge portions of each side; each wing being flexible and bendable along said edge portions; and a suction cup secured to each ofi said wings, whereby'the back rest may be positioned adjacent an end of a bathtub and said suction cups secured to the bathtub,-said protruding bendable wings allowing the suction cups to-be attached to the back of a wide tub and to the sides ofa narrow tub; said back rest adapted to cover an area sufficient to accommodate the entire back of a bather.

- Fishrnan May 20, 1930 Kohlstadt July 25, 1939 

1. A BACK REST FOR USE IN A BATHTUB, COMPRISING: A CORE, SAID CORE FABRICATED OF A RESILIENT, SHAPE RETAINING MATERIAL AND FORMED TO THE GENERAL CONFIGURATION OF AN END OF A BATHTUB; A COVER ENVELOPING SAID CORE, SAID COVER BEING WATERTIGHT AND THE MATERIAL FROM WHICH IT IS FORMED BEING CHARACTERIZED BY RESISTANCE TO SOAPS AND DETERGENTS AND EASILY CLEANED; A WING EXTENDING FROM EACH SIDE OF SAID COVER, AND PROTRUDING BEYOND THE OUTERMOST EDGE PORTIONS OF EACH SIDE; EACH WING BEING FLEXIBLE AND BENDABLE ALONG SAID EDGE PORTIONS; AND A SUCTION CUP SECURED TO EACH OF SAID WINGS, WHEREBY THE BACK REST MAY BE POSITIONED ADJACENT AN END OF A BATH TUB AND SAID SUCTION CUPS SECURED TO THE BATHTUB, SAID PROTRUDING BENDABLE WINGS ALLOWING THE SUCTION CUPS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF A WIDE TUB AND TO THE SIDES OF A NARROW TUB; SAID BACK REST ADAPTED TO COVER AN AREA SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE ENTIRE BACK OF A BATHER. 